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Kent: English-only means safer Georgia roads

Georgia is one of 30 states that have made English the official language of government, but there's a dangerous loophole.

The law lets the Georgia Department of Driver Services give driver's license tests in other languages with the result that applicants can now take the test in as many as 11 languages, ranging from Arabic and Spanish to Laotian.

To simply safeguard the safety of everyone who using Georgia's roads, State Sen. Jack Murphy, R-Cumming, introduced SB 67 in the General Assembly directing DDS to give Georgia's driver's license tests to permanent legal residents exclusively in English.

It passed both chambers by 2-1 margins, but time ran out during the last hour of the session when legislators failed to agree on language added in the House that had nothing to do with the test stipulation. SB 67, nevertheless, remains alive for next year.

Murphy emphasizes that "permanent residents who intend to make Georgia their home need to be able to answer in English the basic questions asked on this important test." (By the way, a practice exam in English is available on the DDS website so test-takers can familiarize themselves with it.)

This bill does not apply to temporary visa holders. The foreign driver's licenses of international business executives, tourists or students will continue to be honored.

And this bill is not a "Kill-Kia bill"-a reference to the automobile plant being built in Georgia by a South Korean company. If anything, it is a "Drive Your Kia in Safety" bill as it will make it safer for everyone to drive in Georgia.

National polls have consistently shown that 85 percent of the American people- black and white, Democrat and Republican, liberal and conservative-support making English the official language of government. This is reflected by the bipartisan support SB 67 received during floor debate.

Rep. Alan Powell, D-Elberton, told the Assembly that passing this law will help potential drivers understand warning signs, and will help them communicate with police or safety personnel in an emergency.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations require drivers engaged in interstate commerce to "read or speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries and to make entries on reports and records."

What is required of drivers engaged in interstate commerce to protect public safety should be required to protect the safety of Georgia drivers as well.

It is almost inexcusable that General Assembly leaders let SB 67 get sidetracked at the last moment. Failure to pass this legislation in the recent session could easily cost the lives of innocent motorists. Police sources can testify to this growing concern.

So let's not be misled by hysteria from those who claim this bill is somehow "anti-immigrant." Our legislative leaders need to understand the stakes and move promptly to pass this common-sense bill in the 2010 General Assembly.

Phil Kent, who lives in Atlanta, is a board member of the group ProEnglish.